Only 69 percent of women receive prenatal care, and among that group serious disparities in access exist along racial and socioeconomic lines. Breastfeeding rates consistently fall short of national goals. Childhood obesity is epidemic, with rates increasing 70 percent since 1994 according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All of these issues present serious fiscal and public health challenges for legislators.
Healthy choices made at the earliest stages of life have tremendous impact on future health. To that end, Women In Government has created this Infant Nutrition Toolkit to provide legislators with the knowledge base and tools they need to ensure maternal and infant health. The Toolkit contains facts and figures about prenatal care, breastfeeding rates, and childhood obesity, along with constituent outreach materials to communicate the seriousness of these issues to the public. Additionally, policy options and sample legislation from a variety of states is provided to serve as models for further legislative action.
The Infant Nutrition Toolkit can be accessed via the links below:
Partners of Women In Government have kindly provided additional materials related to infant nutrition. These can be accessed below:
If you have any questions regarding the Toolkit, please contact Brenna Kehew, Policy Associate, at 202.333.0825 x211 or via email at bkehew@womeningovernment.org.
